Distributed locking method and system for networked device management

ABSTRACT

A system and method for distributed locking for networked device management is provided. In one aspect, a lock is granted for a resource attached to a switched fabric, in response to receiving a request to access the resource. If the resource is already locked by another process or device, or otherwise unavailable, the request may be queued or failed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/487,066 entitled DISTRIBUTED LOCKING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NETWORKED DEVICE MANAGEMENT filed on Jul. 11, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to computer systems, and particularly to distributed computer systems.

BACKGROUND

In traditional computing architecture, storage devices such as hard disks and floppy disks have been directly attached to the computer systems that access the storage devices. Recent development in technology, however, has led to a topology of systems where storage devices are attached to various switched fabrics, instead of being directly attached to a particular computer system. Examples of switched fabrics include a switched fabric implementing network protocols such as the TCP/IP, software and/or hardware stacks, and wireless networks. The devices attached to these switched fabrics, referred to as networked devices (NDs), are able to operate, for example, on IP networks, and provide file sharing and storage services. Although these NDs have the capability to communicate over such fabrics, the NDs often lack the intelligence of the systems that historically hosted storage or other devices directly.

For example, NDs are typically part of a larger set of devices, systems, and components making up what is sometimes referred to as the enterprise. In an enterprise, it is desirable both to share resources and to preclude sharing of resources. For instance, a storage device in some cases may be shared among multiple consumers, while at other times, it is desirable to have the storage device accessed or controlled by one consumer or process at a time. Further, the entities that are accessed often do not have the intelligence to know when or what accesses are appropriate.

Accordingly, there is a need for a locking method and system, for example to control, manage, and/or provide access control to the various NDs, for example, to preclude multiple entities from accessing the NDs when a situation calls for it.

SUMMARY

A system and method for distributed locking in networked device management is provided. The method in one aspect receives a request for a resource attached to a switched fabric and determines if the resource is available. If the resource is available, a lock is granted on the resource so that a requestor may access the resource. The resource is locked so that no other entities may use the resource while the requester accesses and operates on the resource. In one embodiment, if the resource is already locked, the request may be queued or may be failed.

In another aspect, the method includes creating a lock domain comprising a plurality of requesters and one or more resources attached to a switched fabric. A lock manager is provided to control the use of the one or more resources by the plurality of requestors. The lock manager, in one aspect, receives requests for the one or more resources from the plurality of requesters, and grants a lock for the one or more resources to the plurality of requestors in response to the requests.

Further yet, the method in one aspect determines if the lock manager is not responding, and if it is determined that the lock manager is not responding, attempts to terminate the lock manager. A new lock domain is created and the plurality of requesters and one or more resources attached to a switched fabric in the lock domain are notified of the new lock domain. A new lock manager is invoked, and the existing lock information is collected so that the new lock manager may resume the lock management operations seamlessly.

A system for distributed locking for networked device management in one aspect includes a lock manager in response to receiving requests for a resource attached to a switched fabric, operable to determine whether the resource is available. If the resource is available, the lock manager is further operable to grant lock to the resource to allow a requestor to use the resource. The resource is unavailable to other requesters while the requester is using the resource.

Further features as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an architectural diagram illustrating the distributed locking for networked device management in one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the distributed locking method for networked device management in one embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method of freeing a lock in one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the lock states in one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating the lock manager fail-over method in one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a ladder diagram illustrating detailed normal lock operation in one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a ladder diagram illustrating detailed abnormal lock operation in one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a ladder diagram illustrating detailed abnormal lock operation in another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes a system and method for distributed locking for networked device management. FIG. 1 is an architectural diagram illustrating the distributed locking for networked device management in one embodiment. A lock manager 102 in one aspect provides management for a set of objects or devices 104 a . . . 104 n. These objects or devices 104 a . . . 104 n are attached to a switched fabric 108, for example, an IP network. When resource conflict avoidance is desired, the lock manager 102 may be used for performing operations on the resources 104 a . . . 104 n. Operations that require resource management include write operations or similar non-passive operation.

The lock manager 102, in one embodiment, grants a lock for the resource so that the operation or set of operations may be performed on the resource. For example, the lock manager 102 may grant a lock to a requester 106 a . . . 106 n when the resource being requested is free.

A group of managed objects 104 a . . . 104 n and clients 106 a . . . 106 n, also referred to as management requesters 106 a . . . 106 n, performing management operations on managed objects is referred to as a lock domain. The requestors 106 a . . . 106 n may be any computing devices or servers that need to use the resources 104 a . . . 104 n. In one aspect, the requesters 106 a . . . 106 n typically are non-cooperative, that is, one is not aware of another's requests for the resources 104 a . . . 104 n. In one embodiment, a requestor 106 a . . . 106 n obtains necessary locks prior to performing non-passive operations on managed objects 104 a . . . 104 n. Typically, the objects or resources 104 a . . . 106 n being managed do not take part in the lock enforcement. In one embodiment, the objects or resources 104 a . . . 106 n being managed are unaware of the locks that they did not obtain on their own behalf.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the distributed locking method of networked device management in one embodiment. At 202, a requester sends a request to use a resource attached to a network fabric. In one embodiment, a lock request may be sent in a form of a message. For example, a message header may include a lock request having a lock domain name, a requestor name, a managed object name, and an inheritance bit. The lock request may be transmitted in any other interface or form, suitable for communicating among devices and/or processes.

At 204, the lock manager receives this request, and validates that the request originated from a valid member of its lock management group by, for example, checking the requestor name. Further, the lock manager may check the inheritance bit sent in the lock request to determine the type of a lock to grant. Inheritance means that a lock granted for any managed object applies to its children as well. In one embodiment, inheritance is implied in a lock. For example, if a lock is granted for disk array controller XYZ, the lock applies to the volumes alpha and beta that are controlled by XYZ. To override this implication or default functionality, an inheritance bit may be used. When an inheritance bit is set, inheritance is turned off, that is, the lock applies only to the parent object.

At 206, the lock manager determines if the resource being requested is available. At 208, if the resource is available, a lock is granted. At 214, a message may be sent to the requestor so that the requester may begin to use the resource. At 210, if the resource is already locked, for example, because it is in use, or otherwise unavailable, a message is sent to the requestor that the resource is currently unavailable. At 212, the request is either queued or is failed.

In one embodiment, locks are persistent. That is, there is no timeout for a lock. Accordingly, in one embodiment, locks need to be explicitly freed to allow other requesters to use the resource. FIG. 3 illustrates a method of freeing a lock in one embodiment. At 302, a resource is in use and locked. At 304, a normal freeing may be performed by an original requestor of a lock after a termination, successful or otherwise, of the requested operation. The requester may notify the lock manager that it is finished with using the resource, and the lock manager in response may free the lock. FIG. 6, for example, is a ladder diagram illustrating detailed normal lock operation in one embodiment of the present disclosure. At 602, Requestor A requests a resource, Target A, and is granted Lock A at 604. In one aspect, when a lock is granted for Target A, all children resources of Target A are also granted. Similarly, at 606, Requestor B requests a resource, Target B, and is granted Lock B at 608. At 610, Requestor B also requests Target A. Target A is, however, locked, and is in use by Requestor A. Accordingly, at 612, Requestor B's request for Target A fails at 612. At 614, Requestor A performs its operation on Target A, and at 616, the operation terminates with “OK” status. That is, for example, Target A notifies Requestor A of the finished operation, either successful or otherwise. At 618, the lock manager frees Lock A, and at 620, Lock A is “Free” for use by other requestors. In one aspect, when a lock for a resource is freed, all children resources are also freed. At 622, Requestor B's request is received and at 624, Lock A is granted to Requestor B.

In one embodiment, abnormal lock freeing may occur, for example, on a timeout basis. Referring back to FIG. 3, at 308, a resource may malfunction during an operation, and thus do not respond or reply back to the requester.

Based on this reply timeout, a lock manager may free the lock on the resource as shown at 310. For example, the requestor upon not receiving any response from the resource within an allocated amount of time, for instance, may send a message to the lock manager that the resource may be malfunctioning. Lock manager then may free the lock on the resource and perform any debugging operations that may be necessary to bring the resource back to a working condition.

FIG. 7, for example, is a ladder diagram illustrating detailed abnormal lock operation in one embodiment of the present disclosure. At 702, Requestor A requests Target A and the Lock Manager grants Lock A at 704. In one aspect, all children resources of Target A are also granted. At 706, Requestor A performs an operation on Target A, and waits for a return reply from Target A. At 708, no reply is received from Target A. Requestor A waits until a predetermined amount of time has passed, for example, a timeout period, as shown at 710. At 712, an entity or an independent application, for example, Intelligent Management Entity, determines that Target A is not responding. Alternatively, Requestor A in not receiving a response from Target A within the timeout period notifies the Lock Manager or the Intelligent Management Entity. At 714, the Intelligent Management Entity performs a test on Target A and if the test fails, sends a message to Lock Manager to free lock on A from Requestor A at 716.

Referring back to FIG. 3, a forced lock freeing at 316 may be performed by a lock manager, for example, when the lock manager or another requestor determines that a current holder of the lock is dead and/or insane at 312. For example, lack of response or occurrence of other protocol violation means dead and insane, respectively. Once the dead and/or insane entities are known to the lock manager, the lock manager, in one embodiment, invalidates dead and/or insane entities at 314 from valid lock management domain until the lock manager receives a request to add the entities back to the list of valid requestors. Until then, in one embodiment, any requests from dead and/or insane requestors fail without reply and an indication of attack is generated for the appropriate registrant for this indication.

FIG. 8, for example, is a ladder diagram illustrating detailed abnormal lock operation in another embodiment of the present disclosure. At 802, Requestor A requests for a resource, Target A, and at 804, lock is granted. At 808 and 810, it is determined that Requestor A is dead or insane. At 812, the Intelligent Management. Entity is notified of Requestor A's state. At 814, Requestor A is invalidated and at 816, lock on A is freed.

In one embodiment, lock state is maintained by the lock manager and by the requestor of a lock. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the lock states in one embodiment. In one embodiment, one lock exists per target object 106 a . . . 106 c at one time. For each valid lock, the lock manager keeps the requester name and managed object name as shown at 102. For each valid lock, the requestor keeps the managed object name as shown at 104 a . . . 104 b.

In one embodiment, the distributed locking for networked devices of the present disclosure provides a lock manager recovery method, for example, to institute when it is discovered that the lock manager is not functioning. FIG. 5 illustrates the lock manager fail-over method in one embodiment. At 502, when it is detected that a lock manager is not responding, a number of attempts is made to terminate the lock manager at 504. For example, if a requestor does not receive a response, the requestor notifies, for example, a management application or entity. That entity then may determine an appropriate action. A new lock manager domain is created at 506 and sent to the lock manager members, for example, the requestors and the resources in the domain at 508. For example, domains may be created through a management application. At 510, a new lock manager is invoked, by a management application. At 512, the new lock manager collects existing lock information, for example, from the requestors in the lock domain. The new lock domain is set to ‘live’ state at 516. In one embodiment, the pending requests are regenerated by the requesters using the new domain name and sent to the new lock manager as shown at 514. The locks in place are honored by the new lock manager, even if they were created previously by the defunct lock manager.

The system and method of the present disclosure may be implemented and run on a general-purpose computer. The embodiments described above are illustrative examples and it should not be construed that the present invention is limited to these particular embodiments. Various changes and modifications may be effected by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, although particular formats for lock states have been described, it should be appreciated that the lock states may include other formats, and therefore is not limited only to the formats shown. 

1. A method for providing locking management for networked devices, comprising: receiving a request for a resource attached to a switched fabric; determining if the resource is available; granting a lock on the resource, if it is determined that the resource is available; and locking the resource if the lock is granted.
 2. The method of claim 1, further including: queuing the request if it is determined that the resource is not available.
 3. The method of claim 1, further including: determining if the request is from a valid requester.
 4. The method of claim 1, further including: freeing the lock when an operation on the resource is terminated.
 5. The method of claim 1, further including: determining if the resource is responding; and freeing the lock if it is determined that the resource is not responding.
 6. The method of claim 1, further including: determining if the requester is not responding; invalidating the requestor if it is determined that the requestor is not responding; and freeing the lock if it is determined that the requester is not responding.
 7. The method of claim 6, further including: refusing requests from the invalidated requester.
 8. A method of providing locking management for networked devices, comprising: providing a lock manager to control a use of one or more resources by a plurality of requestors, the one or more resources attached to a switched fabric; and allowing the lock manager to receive requests for the one or more resources from the plurality of requesters, and to grant a lock for the one or more resources to the plurality of requesters in response to the requests.
 9. The method of claim 8, further including: determining if the lock manager is not responding, and if it is determined that the lock manager is not responding, attempting to terminate the lock manager; creating a new lock domain; notifying the plurality of requesters and the one or more resources attached to a switched fabric invoking a new lock manager; and collecting existing lock information from the plurality of requesters.
 10. The method of claim 9, further including: collecting one or more pending requests for the one or more resources.
 11. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps of providing locking management for networked devices, comprising: receiving a request for a resource attached to a switched fabric; determining if the resource is available; granting a lock on the resource, if it is determined that the resource is available; and locking the resource if the lock is granted.
 12. The program storage device of claim 11, further including: queuing the request if it is determined that the resource is not available.
 13. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps of providing locking management for networked devices, comprising: providing a lock manager to control a use of one or more resources by a plurality of requestors, the one or more resources attached to a switched fabric; and allowing the lock manager to receive requests for the one or more resources from the plurality of requestors, and to grant a lock for the one or more resources to the plurality of requesters in response to the requests.
 14. The program storage device of claim 13, further including: determining if the lock manager is not responding, and if it is determined that the lock manager is not responding, attempting to terminate the lock manager; creating a new lock domain; notifying the plurality of requesters and one or more resources attached to a switched fabric in; invoking a new lock manager; and collecting existing lock information from the plurality of requesters.
 15. A system for providing locking management for networked devices, comprising: a lock manager in response to receiving requests for a resource attached to a switched fabric, operable to determine whether the resource is available, and if the resource is available, the lock manager further operable to grant a lock to the resource to enable a requestor to use the resource and lock the resource from other requestors while the resource is being used by the requester.
 16. The method of claim 1, further including: failing the request if it is determined that the resource is not available.
 17. The program storage device of claim 11, further including: failing the request if it is determined that the resource is not available. 